SHARJAH – The Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF) 2019 hosted a session titled ‘Bilingualism’, with speakers reflecting on issues like the need to advocate the knowledge of more than one language in order to foster learning, among future generations. It also pondered over the imminent perils visible in language hierarchy.
Fabrice Juamont, author of The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education is in Two Languages, started the discussion by telling the audience about a hugely monolingual American society and the threat that it poses due to lack of knowledge, ambiguity and homophobia.
Recalling the incident that took place a few weeks ago in the US, he says, “You could really put yourselves in great danger even walking New York streets, if you spoke in Spanish, Chinese or even Arabic. A group of Spanish speakers got shot at, in a Texas supermarket due to the different language that they spoke”.
Reflecting on the issue Dr Mansour Al Shamshi, Professor of Political Science at American University of Ras al Khaimah continued, “my observation is my students who’ve studied English right from the beginning have neither mastered English nor are they good at Arabic, which is their mother tongue, although, I do admit that English is more than just a functional language in today’s world. It’s perhaps the most important language of communication and often people judge you based on that”.
Conceding to this point Juamont argued that language hierarchy most certainly existed, with an over emphasis on English which is now considered to be the global language. It overrides all other languages, often eroding our mother tongues. He says, “all languages are equal but unfortunately, there is a certain amount of prestige associated with few languages in the linguistic environment. The biggest challenge is to eliminate this kind of discrimination. We should encourage linguistic diversity instead”.
Juamont thus concludes the session by urging educators and academicians to bring in at least dual language education programmes into effect, by embracing heritage languages, producing bilingual global citizens and creating a cultural sense of community.
He simultaneously appeals to parents to encourage their children to be multilingual or at least bilingual. He says, “Through my research I’ve discovered pioneering mothers, fathers, teachers, and principals share the belief that bilingual education can positively transform a child, a school, a community, and even a country. For many families its essential to maintain and preserve our cultural heritage for a society to thrive. If we don’t encourage that we lose speakers, heritage and culture. It’s a shame not to invest in it.
Daily Pakistan Global Web Desk
KARACHI - Following are the foreign currency exchange rates for US Dollar, Saudi Riyal, UK Pound Sterling, U.A.E. Dirham, European Euro, and other foreign currencies in Pakistan open market on March 31, 2023 (Friday).
Source: Forex Association of Pakistan. (last update 09:00 AM)
Currency | Symbol | Buying | Selling |
US Dollar | USD | 283.8 | 286.6 |
Euro | EUR | 306 | 309 |
UK Pound Sterling | GBP | 347.5 | 351 |
U.A.E Dirham | AED | 77.2 | 79.9 |
Saudi Riyal | SAR | 75.6 | 76.4 |
Australian Dollar | AUD | 187.5 | 189.9 |
Bahrain Dinar | BHD | 753.99 | 761.99 |
Canadian Dollar | CAD | 206.5 | 208.7 |
China Yuan | CNY | 41.25 | 41.65 |
Danish Krone | DKK | 41.26 | 41.51 |
Hong Kong Dollar | HKD | 36.11 | 36.46 |
Indian Rupee | INR | 3.45 | 3.56 |
Japanese Yen | JPY | 2.15 | 2.22 |
Kuwaiti Dinar | KWD | 925.67 | 934.67 |
Malaysian Ringgit | MYR | 62.85 | 63.45 |
New Zealand Dollar | NZD | 175.57 | 177.58 |
Norwegians Krone | NOK | 26.33 | 26.63 |
Omani Riyal | OMR | 736.34 | 744.35 |
Qatari Riyal | QAR | 77.92 | 78.62 |
Singapore Dollar | SGD | 209.5 | 211.5 |
Swedish Korona | SEK | 26.5 | 26.8 |
Swiss Franc | CHF | 308.25 | 310.75 |
Thai Bhat | THB | 8.28 | 8.43 |
KARACHI - The price of a single tola of 24-karat gold in Pakistan is Rs 208,200 on Friday. The price of 10 grams of 24k gold was recorded at Rs178,500.
Likewise, 10 grams of 22k gold were being traded for Rs163,624 while a single tola of 22-karat gold was being sold at Rs 190,849.
Note: The gold rate in Pakistan is fluctuating according to the international market so the price is never been fixed. The below rates are provided by local gold markets and Sarafa Markets of different cities.
City | Gold | Silver |
Lahore | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Karachi | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Islamabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Peshawar | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Quetta | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Sialkot | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Attock | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujranwala | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Jehlum | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Multan | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Bahawalpur | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Gujrat | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Nawabshah | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Chakwal | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Hyderabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Nowshehra | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Sargodha | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
Faisalabad | PKR 208,200 | PKR 2,470 |
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